The Samsara Of The Mind

Ramana Maharshi

oi-Staff

Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 17:46

Bhagavan Ramana had lofty thoughts explained in the most simple manner.

A man from Andhra once complained to Bhagavan of thoughts streaming in while he was reciting the name of Lord Rama (Rama Nama Japa). He said that he was slowly carried away by the thoughts and sought Bhagavan's advice for tackling them. Bhagavan replied jocularly that he was then to take up again the recitation of Rama nama which tickled the gathered devotees to laugh. The helpless man then said, 'Samsara' (family) was the cause for such interruptions to erupt while engaged in the recitation of the Lord's name.

Bhagavan immediately asked, " Oh ! Is that so? What really is meant by Samasara? Is it within or without?"

The man replied, "Wife, children and others"

Bhagavan remarked, " Is that all the Samsara? What have they done? He further asked the questioner to know what Samsara really was first, before deciding to abandon them.

The man,unable to reply kept quiet.

Bhagavan then proceeded to explain what Samsara in truth was which was most often misinterpreted. He said, in case the questioner had to leave his wife and children and stay in the ashram, then the ashram would become a kind of a samsara. If a person was to take up Sanyasa, then the kamandalam (water pot) and karra (walking stick ) would become a different samsara. Bhagavan words clearly denoted that mere alternating of states of family bonding to ashramite to a sannyasi which would not in any case eradicate samsara.

Ramana further more clarified that Samsara would mean the 'Samsara of the mind'. He asked the man to drop the samsara of the mind and troubles would cease to be. The man somehow mustered up a little courage and said, "Yes, that is it Swami, How am I to give up the samsara of the mind?"
Bhagavan immediately diverted his attention to the recitation of Lord Rama's name that the man was forced to drop due to the interference of the train of thoughts. Bhagavan pointed out that when thoughts intervened he was to remind himself of the recitation of Lord Rama's name and continue with it as frequent as possible. The other thoughts would slowly recede with the mind being absorbed in Rama Nama. He further revealed to the man the different stages of repeating the Lord's name as prescribed in the "Upadesa Saram"

"It is better to repeat the name by the mere motion of the lips than by repeating it aloud; better than it is to repeat it in the mind, and the best is dhyanam"

(Upadesa Saram, Verse 6)